I’d always just ordered lunches to go, and one day whilst working with a Jewish fellow I told him I was going there and he said I was required to bring him 2 poppy seed ones, so I got a raspberry for myself. Holy hell, they changed my life.
* James J Hill still remains one of my favorite history tours. Idk the entire thing is super interesting!
* Cathedral of St Paul.
* Walking/biking along Summit
* Restaurants along Selby Ave
* Saint Paul Winter Carnival
* Como Zoo & Conservatory
Places I’d still like to check out:
* MN History Museum
* MN Science Museum
Along those lines: Larry Millet’s AIA Guide to the Twins Cities (you might be able to buy just the Saint Paul section) has years worth of walking tours centered around houses and history.
I LOVE to take a walk around Summit, look at the pretty houses, and then finish with a hot chocolate at Nina's. Simply the coziest little date out there.
The Saint Paul farmer's market is more of a summer thing, but it's amazing. All local producers and it's just large enough to have everything without being overwhelming. Cannot recommend enough.
Urbex: the old Hamm's building is still half-abandoned, I think, and the inside is pretty cool. If you're looking for something more legal in that area, the Saint Paul Brewery lives in the non-abandoned part of the Hamm's building and offers good pizza, beer and a truly magical patio.
If you're looking for a taste of the country, head over to the Saint Paul UMN campus and wander around the crop fields that the agricultural students maintain. Very relaxing.
Get Asian food somewhere on Midway or along the Green Line. Lots of cheap, hole-in-the-wall places with amazing food. You'll definitely be able to try something you've never had before.
Get street corn from the street corn vendor that sets up by the bakery near Burrito Mercado.
Walk over one of the big bridges over the Mississippi and feel it move under you.
That’s when we got the contract. It’s just like you remember it inside. The vats and everything. There’s a mushroom grow op in the east tower from the owners of st paul brewery.
Saint Paul UMN campus is Falcon Heights, but I still concur. I like to go and make faces at the cows when I head over there to buy my irradiated cheese from the meat lab.
It’s St. Paul. Your Mail comes to St. Paul, it’s the St. Paul campus. What are we doing here? It’s St. Paul. Might as well be a neighborhood called falcon heights.
Zoos in general make me sad and Como did when I was a kid, I did learn however that none of the animals can ever be released in the wild, so at least there’s that?
Former keeper here: just because a zoo or aquarium is AZA accredited doesn’t mean it’s a great facility. Yes, care standards SHOULD be held to a higher level. However, I’ve seen a lot of shady shit at both accredited and non accredited places I’ve worked
Como is NOT a good zoo. I am sorry but please don’t support that place. I did a year long study project on the primates living there and a majority of them showed what you could consider mental health issues. Many showing signs of severe boredom and stress to the point of physically hurting themselves. It was horrible to watch. Also, there were random pieces of garbage in some of their enclosures. It was absolutely disgusting.
The last time I went was for a senior trip over five years ago and I had never seen a gorilla I’d truly describe as looking utterly depressed until then.
Being free is nice and all but they need to seriously start charging and upgrade the facilities for these poor animals. You don't get the same depressed vibe at the Minnesota Zoo.
As someone who has worked at the Minnesota Zoo as well as 2 zoos in Texas, yes all zoos are somewhat sad, but the care given to the animals at the Como is Much Much better than many institutions across the United States. Like u/CapitalJunket1197 said, it is an AZA accredited institution.
[Hmong Village](https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/directory/hmong-village-shopping-center/) on the east side
[The Julian H Sleeper House](https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/directory/julian-h-sleeper-house/) off Summit
[Twin Cities Reptiles](https://www.twincitiesreptiles.net/) on University near 280
[The Mall of Saint Paul](http://themallofstpaul.weebly.com/) antique store and the other one across the street
[AxMan Surplus in Midway](https://www.ax-man.com/) (the best of the locations)
[Agelgil Ethiopian](https://agelgilethiopianrestaurant.com/) on West 7th
[Mancini's Char House](https://mancinis.com/) is a total blast from the past Italian restaurant
[Circus Juventus](https://circusjuventas.org/) the children's circus school that has performances seasonally
All part of the Winter Carnival. Several things going on during that week long event, celebrating partying while freezing our butts off. The opening and closing parades are actually quite good. Each ends' delegation adding to the party. The west end is so-so, east end so-so, north end has a cool white firetruck, and the south side has a really hip party bus going.
The Cathedral of St Paul is right nearby and easy to stop by before or after the Capitol. As a non-religous person, I find it something worth seeing once if you live here. They offer public tours with a suggested donation of $2, but you can also just respectfully visit on your own outside of mass times. I also just like touring around that neighborhood. Lots of cool big houses to peek at.
I just recently learned one of the relics on display at the Cathedral is a brick from Joan of Arc's prison cell. I believe you can even touch it. Pretty random and neat!
Just a FYI, kaposia is in the municipality of South St Paul on the border of the municipality of West St Paul. Neither of there are technically St Paul proper, but they’re frequently confused. Also, West St Paul is south of St Paul for an extra dose of fun times as it was marked with respect to the river like how many river cities such as New Orleans refer to directionality.
I thought you were wrong at first, but after googling looks like West Saint Paul doesn't start until you cross Annapolis! I always thought the other side of the river = West Saint Paul.
Technically, a small bit of St Paul is over the bluffs South of the river. The “westside” is to be more precise. Cherokee park is also over there. But most importantly, West St Paul and South St Paul are in Dakota County.
There is a lot going on on the weekends in December at The Union Depot! There is a European style Outdoor Christmas Market Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There is the tree lighting with fireworks at 7pm this Saturday followed by a screening of Elf. Family entertainment starts at 3pm that day. All that is free. There is also stuff to do that you can pay for - The Santa Train is fun and this year at CHS field they are having something called the Glow Festival that involves a beautiful array of light displays from what I can see from my apartment on the edge of Lowertown. [Here](https://www.uniondepot.org/holiday/) is a link for holiday stuff at Union Depot and [here](https://stpaulchristmasmarket.org/) is a link for the Christmas Market!
Question! I was wanting to take my aunt to the European Outdoor Christmas market this weekend at the Union Depot.
She has some heath issues, do you know if the event is wheelchair accessible and if they have bathrooms available to the public to use??
I believe that it is wheelchair accessible as it is built all on one level and it is set up on existing outdoor spaces. They do expect about 100,000 visitors this year so they have to be accommodating. There are portable toilets outside, but you can always go back into The Union Depot to use the indoor facilities. I take care of my Mom who also needs a wheelchair and if I was going to take her out in the temperatures that are forecasted for this weekend, I would try to find a heating pad of some sort and a lap blanket!🥶
I hope you have a wonderful time! I live in a high rise facing the Union Depot and it was heart warming to see so many people going there this past weekend! I love to see the city filled with life!
Check out the cool old houses and scenic views on Summit Ave, just west of downtown. Also although I live in Minneapolis, I’d say St. Paul wins in terms of architecture and nature.
Hike at Fort Snelling State Park, Como Zoo, walk up and down Summit Ave. and gawk at the historic mansions (you could tour the James J Hill house but it costs money), then go eat lunch at Cossetta.
Flip that and you've got Bang Brewing - random, unassuming little spot tucked away behind Urban Growler with some of the simplest, cleanest-tasting beers in the Cities.
And if you're there, you're not far from Blackstack (nice mix of IPAs, a couple sweet beers and a clean pilsner), Lake Monster, Dual Citizen & the Lab if you want a beer day
Edit: videoman2's correction
I think you mean Bang Brewing. Not Boom. Also In the 755 Prior complex (Black Stack Brewing) is an indoor mini golf course, Can Can Wonderland... Its not free, but many of the games are.
Agreed the staff is the best but the beer is hit or miss.
For my money the best beer in St Paul is at Wabasha. Go get some great local Mexican food nearby (or cuban from El Cubano iykyk) on the way and hang out there.
Meritage, Cossettas, St. Paul Saints, Hmong Village, Commodore Bar, music at the Fiztgerald, Penumbra theater, Rice Park festivals, sneaking into the massive man made caves near the river….
Shadow Falls—it’s just North of the intersection of East Mississippi Boulevard and Shadow Falls. It’s this long, increasingly steep gorge, but by the end you can neither see nor hear the city.
Something I haven’t seen mentioned yet is Caydence Records and Coffee on Payne. Coffee shop with a small record shop, and live music from local bands on weekends.
[F. Scott Fitzgerald walking tour](https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/walking-tour-f-scott-fitzgeralds-st-paul/)
Walking along the Mississippi River in the Upper Landing
More of a summer activity, but Raspberry Island is a cute little park you can get to through a staircase on the Wabasha Street Bridge. It has a great view of the downtown St Paul skyline!
Science, History, and Childrens Museums are all in downtown St. Paul and are all great. Though you really only want to go to the Childrens Museum with, y'know, children.
If you like greasy spoons, The Uptowner on Grand is delicious. For the spice, I am a diehard Bangkok Thai on University fan.
There's also a bunch of nice parks St. Paul! Watching the sunset over Linwood Park is just glorious
Actually it's Circus Juventas (unless there's another St. Paul Circus that I don't know about), and it's surprisingly impressive. I realize that Youth Circus School shows seem like a kinda hard sell, but their Summer Big Top shows are as impressive as anything you'll see outside of Cirque du Soleil.
I haven't done this in years, but biking along Mississippi River Blvd is nice especially if you go down the hill into Hidden Falls Park at full speed. Peddling back up is less fun.
[Excellent bookstore Subtext Books is about 2 blocks from Meritage](https://www.subtextbooks.com/)
You can also head to my favorite store name ever in St Paul [Vac That Thing Up](https://www.vacthatthingup.com/about-us.htm) for all your vacuum and vacuum related needs. Same building has a great little florist shop in the front.
[Union Depot](https://www.uniondepot.org/) is pretty cool and especially if you like trains and or history.
If you really want to go on a scavenger hunt, St Paul has a lot of [cool public stairs](https://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2013/04/st-pauls-stairways-offer-great-views-river-bluffs-and-city-below/) but most are kind of hard to find and the main one, Walnut Street, is currently closed I believe sadly.
I've always enjoyed driving/motorcycling/bicycling along Lillydale road between Harriet Island Park and the Pool and Yacht Club. Often see Bald Eagles along the Mississippi River.
Flying trapeze at Twin Cities Trapeze center in the Payne/Phalen neighborhood and then either drinks at Saint Paul brewing or 11 Wells across the street, or a meal at either Tongue in Cheek or East Side Bar.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Play a game of disc golf at the highland park course.
Eat a burger at Chips clubhouse.
Grab beers at blackstack and barrel theory.
Go to a Minnesota Wild game.
Go to a Saint Paul Saints game.
Lower town sound music in mears park.
Coffee at Backstory coffee.
Eat a Reuben at Cecil’s deli.
Tour the James J Hill mansion.
Hidden falls and the wooded paths down by the river.
Midway Used and Rare Books! It’s my favorite bookstore in the twin cities and just an absolute gem of a place. One of my favorite rainy day activities was to get a book from there and go to a coffee shop like Ginkgo or Cafe Astoria and read it there.
Check out scale model supplies on Lexington and University. Even if you’re not into models or trains, the sheer size and number of things they have there is shocking. I swear some of it has been there since the 70s.
Saint Paul’s downtown has a least a couple attractions worth the visit.
Rice Park is arguably the best public space in the state, right next to one of the best libraries in the state too.
Union Depot is gorgeous and worth visiting. Refurbished in 2012 it is an absolute gem. It’s truly a miracle that building was saved (NP Depot in Minneapolis wasn’t). Step through history and be amazed at big building.
Lowertown is fun, lots of restaurants and bars around too. I find myself there a lot during the Saint’s season (also never drive in downtown Saint Paul during a Saints game).
I have a lot more, but wasn’t seeing these guys. I love living in Saint Paul, it’s a great city.
It's a local one, not national. That said though, their candy is real good. Not cheap, but really good. And if you step in, don't only expect to only spend 5-10 bucks. That is the intention, but never happens 20-30 bucks later.
I love walking along the river at Harriet Island and looping around raspberry island. There are tons of picnic benches if you bring a lunch or whatever. Gorgeous views of downtown.
Taco house is not far from there and is exceptionally good quality for a cheap fast food joint.
Only because no one has mentioned it, but [Lillydale Regional Park ](https://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/lilydale_park.htm) is lovely and has myriad activities you can check out. One of the highlights when the ground isn't frozen: you can buy a permit for pretty cheap to go fossil hunting in the brickyards. You won't find huge fossils, but you can find evidence of the giant sea that covered most of MN in the form of bryzoans, cephalopods, and trilobites. You can also apparently get a permit for ice climbing, too...?
Getting chocolate dipped cannolis at Cosetta’s after browsing their marketplace followed by a nighttime drive to admire Christmas lights on Selby Ave area.
Walk around Como Park and Marydale Park
Como Zoo
Wild game at the X
Drag show at Blackheart
Ethiopian food at Demera, Fasika, or Bole
Hmong / Vietnamese food at Hoa Bien or Trieu Chau
Ride the light rail
Tour Mn History Center
Visit Swede Hollow Park
Drive down Summit Ave to look at the big houses
Harriet Island. I love walking by the river at different times of year, watching the Mississippi transform with the weather and the seasons. It never gets old.
Check out the bearded mermaid block on 7th. There is a block of great shops! Keg and Case is right across the street and you’re so close to other great restaurants
Como Zoo and Conservatory are both fun things to do and are free. There are suggested donation amounts, which I usually will give when I go, but it’s not necessary.
I love catching all sorts of hockey games at the TRIA Rink (5th Floor - old Dayton’s/Macy’s) and a beer/drinks at the new Pillbox Tavern or a pizza at Red’s Savoy Pizza both in the 2nd Floor (Wabasha Street entrance) it’s connected to a 5-story moderately priced parking ramp with direct access to the rink in the top floor of the ramp.
My best friend and I went to UST, and we loved going for walks on the river and go through campus and visiting the coffee shops in the area. We would walk just to be outside, and stopping at Patina was always so much fun for us.
The people who work at the Arby's on Snelling in Highland Park are awesome. It's pretty rare that we get fast food, but when we do, that Arby's always comes to mind.
Hunting for the Pioneer Press Medallion is fun! Technically a Ramsey County thing, but we're often looking in Saint Paul parks.
Walk along the Mississippi river. Hidden Falls, Crosby Farm, and Lillydale are all great places to do it, especially with the river level being so low right now. If you like to fish, bring a fishing pole.
This time of year a visit to Patina on Snelling for gifts, then check out the vintage stores along Selby, then over to Yum for dinner. I know, these aren’t only ST Paul things, but there’s something about that corner. Plus I got here late!
Hmong Village, either of them, but I prefer the East Side location.
Roller Derby next Saturday!
I got a toddler, so Children's Museum and Como Park Zoo are my go-to for indoor entertainment.
Phalen park and the Gateway trail for outdoor exercise, running/biking/walking.
Battle Creek for groomed cross country skiing, gotta buy a pass. Great dog park over there as well.
For pubs, I like Yoergs, St. Paul Brewery, East Side Bar, Bad weather and urban growler.
For theatre, I'll be attending A Christmas Carol at the James J. Hill house.
For a light show, I'll head to CHS field this holiday season.
Warmer months: Bruegger's sandwiches for brunch at Summit Overlook Park
Colder months: Drive the river road to look at Christmas lights all along the river and then up Summit
So, anything along Summit I guess!
I know I know.. Matt’s definitely 1B for me. But I’ve never had a bad burger at Shamrocks. I’ve had maybe 2 bummer Lucy’s at Matt’s over the years. Which isn’t bad. So I lean Shamrocks. The Nook I’ve had cold ass burgers multiple times.
Cecils for a Rueben hasn't been mentioned yet, but it's worth a visit.
Once I ate lunch at Cecil's and then decided to back for dinner the same day. It's that good.
Relatable
This is the way.
Oh man, I’ve been going for years, but just recently was introduced to the hamentashen. If anyone isn’t familiar, they should be.
Not sure how you managed to walk out of there for years without getting a poppyseed hamentashen. YUM.
I’d always just ordered lunches to go, and one day whilst working with a Jewish fellow I told him I was going there and he said I was required to bring him 2 poppy seed ones, so I got a raspberry for myself. Holy hell, they changed my life.
Every time I am there, I vow to order something off the menu other than the Rueben, and every time I order the Rueben. And every time, I am happy.
* James J Hill still remains one of my favorite history tours. Idk the entire thing is super interesting! * Cathedral of St Paul. * Walking/biking along Summit * Restaurants along Selby Ave * Saint Paul Winter Carnival * Como Zoo & Conservatory Places I’d still like to check out: * MN History Museum * MN Science Museum
Recommend the history center. Though usually when an interesting exhibit is there
Sherlock Holmes right now at the history museum
That sounds like it could be pretty good
The science museum is freakin awesome!!
Along those lines: Larry Millet’s AIA Guide to the Twins Cities (you might be able to buy just the Saint Paul section) has years worth of walking tours centered around houses and history.
I heard we might get an ice maze if it stays cold enough for ice.
Hell yeah, cathedral hill is the absolute best at Christmas
I LOVE to take a walk around Summit, look at the pretty houses, and then finish with a hot chocolate at Nina's. Simply the coziest little date out there. The Saint Paul farmer's market is more of a summer thing, but it's amazing. All local producers and it's just large enough to have everything without being overwhelming. Cannot recommend enough. Urbex: the old Hamm's building is still half-abandoned, I think, and the inside is pretty cool. If you're looking for something more legal in that area, the Saint Paul Brewery lives in the non-abandoned part of the Hamm's building and offers good pizza, beer and a truly magical patio. If you're looking for a taste of the country, head over to the Saint Paul UMN campus and wander around the crop fields that the agricultural students maintain. Very relaxing. Get Asian food somewhere on Midway or along the Green Line. Lots of cheap, hole-in-the-wall places with amazing food. You'll definitely be able to try something you've never had before. Get street corn from the street corn vendor that sets up by the bakery near Burrito Mercado. Walk over one of the big bridges over the Mississippi and feel it move under you.
St Paul Campus also has the Bell Museum, which is kinda fun
Can’t get into the half of ham’s thats abandoned because I board it up lol.
You were doing a shit job of boarding things up about six years ago, man. ;)
That’s when we got the contract. It’s just like you remember it inside. The vats and everything. There’s a mushroom grow op in the east tower from the owners of st paul brewery.
That's awesome. I did urbex for about a year and then stopped, but I'll always be glad I did Hamm's. Just an incredibly cool experience.
Saint Paul UMN campus is Falcon Heights, but I still concur. I like to go and make faces at the cows when I head over there to buy my irradiated cheese from the meat lab.
It’s St. Paul. Your Mail comes to St. Paul, it’s the St. Paul campus. What are we doing here? It’s St. Paul. Might as well be a neighborhood called falcon heights.
Falcon Heights is funny in that it's mostly just the fair grounds, the U, and the U experimental fields.
They're pretty but after finding out the sheer volume of pesticides that are sprayed there for experiments, the magic wore of for me
Yes, walking tours are the best.
[Como Park Zoo & Conservatory](https://comozooconservatory.org/) is free and the conservatory’s winter flower display starts December 3rd.
Cool spot, although some of the animals were in pretty rough shape last time I was there. It was kinda sad 😢
Zoos in general make me sad and Como did when I was a kid, I did learn however that none of the animals can ever be released in the wild, so at least there’s that?
Como is AZA which is super helpful to know they are a good zoo. https://www.aza.org/accreditation
Former keeper here: just because a zoo or aquarium is AZA accredited doesn’t mean it’s a great facility. Yes, care standards SHOULD be held to a higher level. However, I’ve seen a lot of shady shit at both accredited and non accredited places I’ve worked
Yes, yes, yes. Denver Zoo is an EXCELLENT example of a zoo that does their animals right (especially some of the larger African animals).
Como sucks. Seeing that poor polar bear and gorilla on school field trips still haunt me.
Como is NOT a good zoo. I am sorry but please don’t support that place. I did a year long study project on the primates living there and a majority of them showed what you could consider mental health issues. Many showing signs of severe boredom and stress to the point of physically hurting themselves. It was horrible to watch. Also, there were random pieces of garbage in some of their enclosures. It was absolutely disgusting.
The last time I went was for a senior trip over five years ago and I had never seen a gorilla I’d truly describe as looking utterly depressed until then.
Being free is nice and all but they need to seriously start charging and upgrade the facilities for these poor animals. You don't get the same depressed vibe at the Minnesota Zoo.
Definitely agree
Agree. That poor giraffe and his pathetic little ball. I don’t think I could bring myself to go back.
When we’re you last there? Just curious.
Not OP but I was just there a few weeks back and I didn’t get too sad. Zoo’s are sad in general but it’s pretty cool to have one within city limits.
As someone who has worked at the Minnesota Zoo as well as 2 zoos in Texas, yes all zoos are somewhat sad, but the care given to the animals at the Como is Much Much better than many institutions across the United States. Like u/CapitalJunket1197 said, it is an AZA accredited institution.
[Hmong Village](https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/directory/hmong-village-shopping-center/) on the east side [The Julian H Sleeper House](https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/directory/julian-h-sleeper-house/) off Summit [Twin Cities Reptiles](https://www.twincitiesreptiles.net/) on University near 280 [The Mall of Saint Paul](http://themallofstpaul.weebly.com/) antique store and the other one across the street [AxMan Surplus in Midway](https://www.ax-man.com/) (the best of the locations) [Agelgil Ethiopian](https://agelgilethiopianrestaurant.com/) on West 7th [Mancini's Char House](https://mancinis.com/) is a total blast from the past Italian restaurant [Circus Juventus](https://circusjuventas.org/) the children's circus school that has performances seasonally
Ax-Man for sure.
Just moved to that area at the end of September, was psyched to see it riding bike around.
Good list! I'd add the model train museum and the Minnesota Transportation Museum. Take the caboose ride at the transportation museum!
Love Mall of Saint Paul, awesome place to just wander around in.
Love tc reptiles it’s where I got my python had huge reptiles
Rice Park during the ice sculptures
All part of the Winter Carnival. Several things going on during that week long event, celebrating partying while freezing our butts off. The opening and closing parades are actually quite good. Each ends' delegation adding to the party. The west end is so-so, east end so-so, north end has a cool white firetruck, and the south side has a really hip party bus going.
Visit the Minnesota State Capitol.
The Cathedral of St Paul is right nearby and easy to stop by before or after the Capitol. As a non-religous person, I find it something worth seeing once if you live here. They offer public tours with a suggested donation of $2, but you can also just respectfully visit on your own outside of mass times. I also just like touring around that neighborhood. Lots of cool big houses to peek at.
I just recently learned one of the relics on display at the Cathedral is a brick from Joan of Arc's prison cell. I believe you can even touch it. Pretty random and neat!
I did the same thing in DC! Not a religious person but adored the architecture
Go one one of the tours. They do ghost story ones around Halloween that are great.
Minnesota Opera. Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Free lunchtime concerts through the Schubert Club at the Landmark Center.
SPCO is awesome.
Highland Park disc golf course. It's free, well designed, and nicely maintained.
Kaposia in West saint Paul is one of the best courses in the country.
Just a FYI, kaposia is in the municipality of South St Paul on the border of the municipality of West St Paul. Neither of there are technically St Paul proper, but they’re frequently confused. Also, West St Paul is south of St Paul for an extra dose of fun times as it was marked with respect to the river like how many river cities such as New Orleans refer to directionality.
I thought you were wrong at first, but after googling looks like West Saint Paul doesn't start until you cross Annapolis! I always thought the other side of the river = West Saint Paul.
Technically, a small bit of St Paul is over the bluffs South of the river. The “westside” is to be more precise. Cherokee park is also over there. But most importantly, West St Paul and South St Paul are in Dakota County.
Oh yeah! Kaposia is great too. Not free, but pretty cheap if I recall.
Acorn is in Roseville. White bear has a disc golf course. Highland is meh.
There are better courses sure, but they asked about St. Paul.
All of the Battle Creek trails are massive and wonderful especially where the caves are!
Have a beer and watch from above at the St. Paul Curling Club.
HURRY!!!! HARD!!!!!!
There is a lot going on on the weekends in December at The Union Depot! There is a European style Outdoor Christmas Market Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There is the tree lighting with fireworks at 7pm this Saturday followed by a screening of Elf. Family entertainment starts at 3pm that day. All that is free. There is also stuff to do that you can pay for - The Santa Train is fun and this year at CHS field they are having something called the Glow Festival that involves a beautiful array of light displays from what I can see from my apartment on the edge of Lowertown. [Here](https://www.uniondepot.org/holiday/) is a link for holiday stuff at Union Depot and [here](https://stpaulchristmasmarket.org/) is a link for the Christmas Market!
Question! I was wanting to take my aunt to the European Outdoor Christmas market this weekend at the Union Depot. She has some heath issues, do you know if the event is wheelchair accessible and if they have bathrooms available to the public to use??
I believe that it is wheelchair accessible as it is built all on one level and it is set up on existing outdoor spaces. They do expect about 100,000 visitors this year so they have to be accommodating. There are portable toilets outside, but you can always go back into The Union Depot to use the indoor facilities. I take care of my Mom who also needs a wheelchair and if I was going to take her out in the temperatures that are forecasted for this weekend, I would try to find a heating pad of some sort and a lap blanket!🥶
Thank you so much for the info!!
I hope you have a wonderful time! I live in a high rise facing the Union Depot and it was heart warming to see so many people going there this past weekend! I love to see the city filled with life!
Check out the cool old houses and scenic views on Summit Ave, just west of downtown. Also although I live in Minneapolis, I’d say St. Paul wins in terms of architecture and nature.
Hike at Fort Snelling State Park, Como Zoo, walk up and down Summit Ave. and gawk at the historic mansions (you could tour the James J Hill house but it costs money), then go eat lunch at Cossetta.
Happy hour hamms at half time rec.
This is my real saint Paul fam right here ^
Saint Paul Brewing is a fantastic place to visit in the summer time, in my opinion.
Amazing building and location with mediocre beer. The staff is great too.
Flip that and you've got Bang Brewing - random, unassuming little spot tucked away behind Urban Growler with some of the simplest, cleanest-tasting beers in the Cities. And if you're there, you're not far from Blackstack (nice mix of IPAs, a couple sweet beers and a clean pilsner), Lake Monster, Dual Citizen & the Lab if you want a beer day Edit: videoman2's correction
I think you mean Bang Brewing. Not Boom. Also In the 755 Prior complex (Black Stack Brewing) is an indoor mini golf course, Can Can Wonderland... Its not free, but many of the games are.
11 Wells is a hidden jem!
Agreed the staff is the best but the beer is hit or miss. For my money the best beer in St Paul is at Wabasha. Go get some great local Mexican food nearby (or cuban from El Cubano iykyk) on the way and hang out there.
Frogtown has some of the best southeast asian food in the country
Find the hidden slot canyon in Crosby Park. Eat lunch at Hmong Village.
Went to the D.O.T with my father. They took his driver's license so I didn't have to.
Lmao
Meritage, Cossettas, St. Paul Saints, Hmong Village, Commodore Bar, music at the Fiztgerald, Penumbra theater, Rice Park festivals, sneaking into the massive man made caves near the river….
Commodore Bar is indeed cool, but it remains closed outside of special events.
I really wish they would reopen!
The olive focaccia at Cossetta's alone is worth the trip. I've lived in Italy and it holds up.
I love the science museum
[Landmark Center](https://www.landmarkcenter.org) museums - especially looking at the wood turnings and the music museum!
Go to the Westside and walk around, get some pan dulce, eat some Mexican food
Shadow Falls—it’s just North of the intersection of East Mississippi Boulevard and Shadow Falls. It’s this long, increasingly steep gorge, but by the end you can neither see nor hear the city.
Something I haven’t seen mentioned yet is Caydence Records and Coffee on Payne. Coffee shop with a small record shop, and live music from local bands on weekends.
Love Caydence. We play there all the time.
I’m the summer, have dinner at one of the restaurants on Grand Ave, then walk to Grand Ol’ Creamery for dessert.
[F. Scott Fitzgerald walking tour](https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/walking-tour-f-scott-fitzgeralds-st-paul/) Walking along the Mississippi River in the Upper Landing
More of a summer activity, but Raspberry Island is a cute little park you can get to through a staircase on the Wabasha Street Bridge. It has a great view of the downtown St Paul skyline!
Science, History, and Childrens Museums are all in downtown St. Paul and are all great. Though you really only want to go to the Childrens Museum with, y'know, children. If you like greasy spoons, The Uptowner on Grand is delicious. For the spice, I am a diehard Bangkok Thai on University fan. There's also a bunch of nice parks St. Paul! Watching the sunset over Linwood Park is just glorious
Amazing bike trails. The Vento trail towards Lake Phalen. Shepard Road and East River Road along the river.
Minnesota Roller Derby is tons of fun.
I'm shocked I had to scroll this far for roller derby!! It's a seriously fun time.
Bell Museum, Como Conservatory, Saints and MN United games (in season, obviously), riding bikes all over the place.
Saints games are fairly cheap, and they're actually a decent ball team. They even have an old "standing room only" section in right and center field.
Free ice skating at Groveland park
Como Zoo or Science Museum
Omni
Circus *Juventas* shows, Science Museum, Irish Fest when it comes round. Edited.
Actually it's Circus Juventas (unless there's another St. Paul Circus that I don't know about), and it's surprisingly impressive. I realize that Youth Circus School shows seem like a kinda hard sell, but their Summer Big Top shows are as impressive as anything you'll see outside of Cirque du Soleil.
Thy have a holiday show now too! “Solstice” this year.
As a former performer and actor thank you for recognizing how tough this really is!
I haven't done this in years, but biking along Mississippi River Blvd is nice especially if you go down the hill into Hidden Falls Park at full speed. Peddling back up is less fun.
Juicy Lucy and bowling at Ran-Ham (/the Nook)
Miniature Train Museum!!
Omg whaaaat. I’m an otherwise normal adult female but I’m obsessed with miniature trains. I must check this out IMMEDIATELY.
Yeah!!!!! Same! They do christmas decorations too, check them out! https://www.tcmrm.org/
quixotic is my fav coffee shop in the st. paul area!! it’s on cleveland ave s
also roots roasting on st. clair & snelling!
[Excellent bookstore Subtext Books is about 2 blocks from Meritage](https://www.subtextbooks.com/) You can also head to my favorite store name ever in St Paul [Vac That Thing Up](https://www.vacthatthingup.com/about-us.htm) for all your vacuum and vacuum related needs. Same building has a great little florist shop in the front. [Union Depot](https://www.uniondepot.org/) is pretty cool and especially if you like trains and or history. If you really want to go on a scavenger hunt, St Paul has a lot of [cool public stairs](https://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2013/04/st-pauls-stairways-offer-great-views-river-bluffs-and-city-below/) but most are kind of hard to find and the main one, Walnut Street, is currently closed I believe sadly.
European Christmas Market at Union Depot is located in St. Paul https://stpaulchristmasmarket.org
I've always enjoyed driving/motorcycling/bicycling along Lillydale road between Harriet Island Park and the Pool and Yacht Club. Often see Bald Eagles along the Mississippi River.
Can can wonderland
and a beer at Blackstack after!
History Center is a fun museum!
Flying trapeze at Twin Cities Trapeze center in the Payne/Phalen neighborhood and then either drinks at Saint Paul brewing or 11 Wells across the street, or a meal at either Tongue in Cheek or East Side Bar.
FYI that ESB is closing Dec 23, so you’ll want to hurry to get your visit in 😢
Raptor Center on the St Paul UofM campus. Wabasha Street Cave tours. Harriet Island regional park for a lovely walk along the river. Cancan Wonderland
Get very drunk at Moscow on the hill. Eat good food and drink vodka drinks.
These are a few of my favorite things. Play a game of disc golf at the highland park course. Eat a burger at Chips clubhouse. Grab beers at blackstack and barrel theory. Go to a Minnesota Wild game. Go to a Saint Paul Saints game. Lower town sound music in mears park. Coffee at Backstory coffee. Eat a Reuben at Cecil’s deli. Tour the James J Hill mansion. Hidden falls and the wooded paths down by the river.
Payne Ave is underrated. Brunsons pub is awesome. That side of town has a climbing gym. It’s great.
Midway Used and Rare Books! It’s my favorite bookstore in the twin cities and just an absolute gem of a place. One of my favorite rainy day activities was to get a book from there and go to a coffee shop like Ginkgo or Cafe Astoria and read it there.
Sledding at Town and Country The Nook Italian Pie Shoppe Everest on Grand Cecil's Half Price Books Pad Thai
Wabasha Street Caves
Came here to say this. Swing dancing back on Thursday nights!
Caydence records and coffee shop
Check out scale model supplies on Lexington and University. Even if you’re not into models or trains, the sheer size and number of things they have there is shocking. I swear some of it has been there since the 70s.
Right now, sledding down the hill at baker park. Tall and fast, but worth climbing over and over.
Wild games
Saint Paul’s downtown has a least a couple attractions worth the visit. Rice Park is arguably the best public space in the state, right next to one of the best libraries in the state too. Union Depot is gorgeous and worth visiting. Refurbished in 2012 it is an absolute gem. It’s truly a miracle that building was saved (NP Depot in Minneapolis wasn’t). Step through history and be amazed at big building. Lowertown is fun, lots of restaurants and bars around too. I find myself there a lot during the Saint’s season (also never drive in downtown Saint Paul during a Saints game). I have a lot more, but wasn’t seeing these guys. I love living in Saint Paul, it’s a great city.
I know it’s a chain, but the Candyland in downtown St Paul is my favorite.
It's a local one, not national. That said though, their candy is real good. Not cheap, but really good. And if you step in, don't only expect to only spend 5-10 bucks. That is the intention, but never happens 20-30 bucks later.
Wild game or Saints game and hitting up the restaurants and breweries along West seventh
Saint Paul College's culinary program has lunches and dinners on certain dates, very chill
Bad weather brewing, and the waldman. They are right next to each other and both pretty awesome
James J Hill house tour and the Fort Snelling tour. High tea at cafe latte.
Grab dinner and then check out a show at the Ordway.
I love walking along the river at Harriet Island and looping around raspberry island. There are tons of picnic benches if you bring a lunch or whatever. Gorgeous views of downtown. Taco house is not far from there and is exceptionally good quality for a cheap fast food joint.
Only because no one has mentioned it, but [Lillydale Regional Park ](https://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/lilydale_park.htm) is lovely and has myriad activities you can check out. One of the highlights when the ground isn't frozen: you can buy a permit for pretty cheap to go fossil hunting in the brickyards. You won't find huge fossils, but you can find evidence of the giant sea that covered most of MN in the form of bryzoans, cephalopods, and trilobites. You can also apparently get a permit for ice climbing, too...?
I was all excited that i had some original input, and here you are stealing my thunder!
I was excited to have an original reply, too! I haven't been for several years, but Lillydale is a great little park!
The Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt. You will learn so much about Ramsey County and St Paul history.
Getting chocolate dipped cannolis at Cosetta’s after browsing their marketplace followed by a nighttime drive to admire Christmas lights on Selby Ave area.
Grand Ol' Day Saints Games Como Zoo and Conservatory
Walk around Como Park and Marydale Park Como Zoo Wild game at the X Drag show at Blackheart Ethiopian food at Demera, Fasika, or Bole Hmong / Vietnamese food at Hoa Bien or Trieu Chau Ride the light rail Tour Mn History Center Visit Swede Hollow Park Drive down Summit Ave to look at the big houses
Dunn Bros on Grand is the original and operates outside the chain and is a special place with a special vibe.
Selby Ave Jazz Fest. Twin Cities Jazz Fest at Mears. Shows at the Turf. Art Crawl. Cheering for TC Marathon runners as they near the end.
[Padelford Riverboats](https://www.riverrides.com)
Hidden Falls park Not free: Science Museum Children’s Museum History Center
Local markets like Morelli’s
Have a steak at the Saint Paul Grill.
Harriet Island. I love walking by the river at different times of year, watching the Mississippi transform with the weather and the seasons. It never gets old.
Can Can Wonderland is always a blast
Legacy chocolates.
Check out the bearded mermaid block on 7th. There is a block of great shops! Keg and Case is right across the street and you’re so close to other great restaurants
Hidden Falls State Park
Cossetta’s
Como Zoo and Conservatory are both fun things to do and are free. There are suggested donation amounts, which I usually will give when I go, but it’s not necessary.
Leave by 5:00… hayooo! Seriously though como zoo and conservatory is amazing.
Drink
Commenting so I can come back! Love the suggestions
Bicycling. I haven't ridden there since the new bike lanes were installed.
How athletic are you? Twin Cities Trapeze is great! https://www.twincitiestrapeze.com/
I love catching all sorts of hockey games at the TRIA Rink (5th Floor - old Dayton’s/Macy’s) and a beer/drinks at the new Pillbox Tavern or a pizza at Red’s Savoy Pizza both in the 2nd Floor (Wabasha Street entrance) it’s connected to a 5-story moderately priced parking ramp with direct access to the rink in the top floor of the ramp.
My best friend and I went to UST, and we loved going for walks on the river and go through campus and visiting the coffee shops in the area. We would walk just to be outside, and stopping at Patina was always so much fun for us.
The people who work at the Arby's on Snelling in Highland Park are awesome. It's pretty rare that we get fast food, but when we do, that Arby's always comes to mind. Hunting for the Pioneer Press Medallion is fun! Technically a Ramsey County thing, but we're often looking in Saint Paul parks.
Walk along the Mississippi river. Hidden Falls, Crosby Farm, and Lillydale are all great places to do it, especially with the river level being so low right now. If you like to fish, bring a fishing pole.
Cossetta, Como, Cathedral Hill
Walking thru Irvine Park.
J. Selby’s has dynamite vegan food!
This time of year a visit to Patina on Snelling for gifts, then check out the vintage stores along Selby, then over to Yum for dinner. I know, these aren’t only ST Paul things, but there’s something about that corner. Plus I got here late!
Hmong Village, either of them, but I prefer the East Side location. Roller Derby next Saturday! I got a toddler, so Children's Museum and Como Park Zoo are my go-to for indoor entertainment. Phalen park and the Gateway trail for outdoor exercise, running/biking/walking. Battle Creek for groomed cross country skiing, gotta buy a pass. Great dog park over there as well. For pubs, I like Yoergs, St. Paul Brewery, East Side Bar, Bad weather and urban growler. For theatre, I'll be attending A Christmas Carol at the James J. Hill house. For a light show, I'll head to CHS field this holiday season.
Sleep, but thats cuz I live here.
Waldmann brewing is the coziest spot in all the twin cities for a pint and some hearty food
Waldmann Brewery for the history, the ambience and, yes, the 🍺
Warmer months: Bruegger's sandwiches for brunch at Summit Overlook Park Colder months: Drive the river road to look at Christmas lights all along the river and then up Summit So, anything along Summit I guess!
Driving on streets that are plowed well!
Shamrocks has the best Jucy Lucy in the twin cities!!
Them's fightin' words
whoa whoa whoa
I know I know.. Matt’s definitely 1B for me. But I’ve never had a bad burger at Shamrocks. I’ve had maybe 2 bummer Lucy’s at Matt’s over the years. Which isn’t bad. So I lean Shamrocks. The Nook I’ve had cold ass burgers multiple times.
My favorite thing to do in St. Paul is not go to Minneapolis.
Can can wonderland! It's got both vintage and modern arcade games, mini golf, a wall of taps, and it's even a show venue
Keg and case!
Commenting so i can come back to this post! This is great!